To celebrate its 30th anniversary Fame the musical is currently touring the UK. With music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy, Fame the musical opened on Broadway in 1988 and is based on the 1980s film of the same name.

The story follows the hopes, dreams, love and losses of a group of students from New York’s high school for performing arts. It follows the students from their first audition to graduation. The musical explores issues of prejudice, identity, sexuality and substance abuse.

Director and choreographer Nick Winston has created a charismatic production that is full of a variety of energetic dance styles from Hip-hop to Ballet to Latin routines which are all delivered magnificently by this extremely talented young cast.

Set designer Morgan Large uses modern lighting against a backdrop of school yearbook photos to effectively create the corridors and rehearsal studios of the high school environment. We also marvelled at the iconic yellow taxis that moved around the backdrop as the cast sang the popular classic Fame.

The extremely talented on stage “band” members, Simon Anthony as Schlomo, Alexander Zane as Goody and Louisa Beadel as Lambchops all delivered the music with energy, passion and skill.

Mica Paris as teacher Mrs Sherman, gave an outstanding emotional delivery of These are my children which for me was the number of the evening.

Molly McGuire as student actress Serena, gave the stand out performance of the evening for me particularly with her accomplished acting skills and her beautiful voice. I really enjoyed her delivery of Let’s play a love scene.

Packed with outstanding choreography and fantastic performances from an extremely talented young cast, Fame the musical had the Birmingham audience on their feet in appreciation, as this production really did light up the stage like a flame!

This was one of our favourite productions that we have seen at The Alex this year.

Fame the musical runs at the Alex from 19th – 24th November when it continues its UK tour.

MT

Theatretastic rating 4/5:

We say: “Packed with outstanding choreography and fantastic performances from an extremely talented young cast, Fame the musical had the Birmingham audience on their feet in appreciation, as this production really did light up the stage like a flame!”